Mike Seese

As Leaders, the majority of us naturally strive for our units to be as successful as possible.  We all have great intentions, and most of us are very enthusiastic, about achieving success.  I've participated in meetings where the group is very excited at the prospects of a certain Course of Action, and quickly aligns with it.  The danger lies in that instead of asking critical, objective questions, leaders in the room can quickly become "on-board" with making a Course of Action fit instead of picking the best Course of Action for a mission.  Many more successful ideas within the group's individuals may be quashed in light of a Group Think produced solution.

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It is most often Senior Noncommissioned Officers who ask the hard, critical questions when this scenario arises.  In a "Watchdog Capacity", Senior NCOs fulfill a role which is one of the common solutions to defeating Group Think.  Check out other solutions below!

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How To Avoid Group Think:

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1) Senior Leader encourages debate/discussion.  Subordinates should never fear respectfully expressing dissenting opinions

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2) "Watchdog" roles are assigned and supported (any one can be a watchdog).  The watchdog is responsible for objectively challenging assumptions and ideas, or highlighting errors in thinking

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3) Superiors acknowledge dissenting feedback objectively 

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4) Senior Leader removes him or herself from a working environment, as necessary, to allow working groups to discuss and assess solutions without the pressure of physical presence